Cambridge endured a disappointing weekend in their league campaign after failing to secure maximum points from a double-header played at Nigel Jim Fouché Stadium on April 18 and 19.

The Bridges first took on Ambassadors FC from Tembisa, starting the match on the front foot and creating several early scoring opportunities. However, their lack of clinical finishing proved costly as they failed to convert their chances.

Ambassadors FC gradually grew into the contest and applied pressure on the home side, which led to a penalty in the 20th minute. The spot-kick was successfully converted, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Cambridge continued to push for an equaliser but went into halftime trailing 1-0 after wasting several clear opportunities in front of goal. In the second half, Cambridge dominated possession and committed more players forward in search of an equaliser.

However, this left them exposed defensively, and Ambassadors FC capitalised on the break, scoring a second goal after Cambridge failed to deal with a cross. With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors sealed the match with a third goal on the counterattack, handing Cambridge a 3-0 defeat in front of their home supporters.

Cambridge returned to the same venue for a Nigel derby against Neighbour’s Dream Team. Once again, Cambridge controlled possession for long stretches of the first half but struggled to turn their dominance into goals in the final third.

Dream Team, who are battling relegation, showed determination and threatened on the counterattack, but the first half ended goalless. After the break, Cambridge continued to press and stretch their opponents, but it was Dream Team who struck first in the 60th minute. A long ball over the top exposed the Cambridge defence, allowing the striker to finish and make it 1-0.

Cambridge responded strongly and eventually found an equaliser through Alizwe General Mnengisa, who produced a well-taken finish into the top corner to level the match at one. Despite late pressure from Cambridge in search of a winner, they were unable to break through again, and the match ended in a draw.

The weekend results saw Cambridge collect just one point from a possible six, a setback in their push up the league table.

Head coach Dennis Metsana admitted the results were disappointing but said there is still room for recovery.

“It’s a disappointing run of results as we only managed to get one point out of a possible six. It’s a failed exam, but we still have 10 matches to play. We need to restore belief in the players. We dominate possession but struggle in the final third. If we take our chances, the results would tell a different story,” he said.

Chairperson Ignatius Maphike also expressed concern over missed opportunities, saying the team had let valuable points slip away.

“We just gave the league away and missed an opportunity to compete for the playoffs. We have ourselves to blame. Those missed chances have become our worst nightmare in recent matches. We soldier on and see what happens in the remaining congested fixtures,” he said.